That little gal with the big voice is back! This time on our Movie Monday she gets a little help with dancing from Fred Astaire and music composed by Irving Berlin. Easter Parade went on to be Judy Garland's highest grossing film of her career, and was the highest grossing musical of 1948.
Love triangles aplenty as Don Hewes (Fred Astaire) and his original dancing partner, and the girl he adores, Nadine Hale (Ann Miller) have a falling out. Nadine decides to strike out on her own, and is quickly replaced by Hannah Brown (Judy Garland) and the new team becomes a hit, after a few mistakes along the way. A man by the name of Jonathan Harrow III (Peter Lawford) throws a wrench in to the mix when he declares his attraction to Hannah and sings "A Fella with an Umbrella," trying to impress her. Hannah later admits to Jonny, that she is in love with Don, and that the mistakes she makes in rehearsals are so she can spend more time with him. In the one of most memorable performances of the film Astaire and Garland come out on stage as a pair of street urchins and sing "A Couple of Swells" to the audience's delight.
The show stopping number, "A Couple of Swells" is one of the most memorable scenes in Easter Parade
Don and Hannah's performances get the attention of Mr. Ziegfeld of the Ziegfeld Follies where they perform "Midnight Choo Choo," and where they meet up with Don's former dance partner, Nadine who is starring in the Follies. Nadine's signature dance performance is "The Girl on the Magazine Cover" featuring an elaborate staging where dancers appear as models on covers of magazines. Don breaks out and old song and dance number he used to do with Nadine, making Hannah jealous in the process. In the end, forgiveness wins out and Don and Hannah end up together, singing one of Berlin's most unforgettable songs, Easter Parade.
Astaire and Garland happily dance together
No comments:
Post a Comment